Arrest in Sarasota adult store robbery

Wednesday

Jun 26, 2013 at 7:14 AM

Staff report

A 57-year-old Sarasota man has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of an adult store in Sarasota a week ago, authorities said.

Ernest L. Krause, of the 3100 block of Monica Parkway, was taken into custody Tuesday in Ohio and charged with two counts of robbery with a firearm and one count of false imprisonment relating to the June 18 robbery, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

According to reports, Krause entered the Adult Pursuits store in the 3400 block of 17th Street, pointed a handgun at the clerk working at the time and demanded she hand over all the store's money.

The clerk reportedly complied with the demand, giving Krause an unspecified amount of cash. He then allegedly tied her wrists together using cords, forced her to lie on the floor and, while holding the gun to her head, stole the store's supply of incense.

Krause fled the store moments later when a customer entered the store, allowing the clerk to free herself and call police, she told investigators. The customer left the scene before police arrived.

A Sarasota deputy investigating the robbery recognized the scene as similar to a robbery at a Pizza Hut in December 2012, and linked Krause to both. A witness at a nearby business identified the suspect as having been in the area of the adult store moments before the robbery.

Days later, acting on a call from investigators in Washington County, Ohio, a Sarasota deputy spoke with a resident of that area, who claimed that Krause, through a mutual acquaintance, admitted robbing the store and that he planned to travel to Ohio.

In a follow-up call that involved the resident and Krause, Krause reportedly admitting to the robbery and to tying up the clerk, the sheriff's office said. A Sarasota County arrest warrant was issued, and Krause was taken into custody in Ohio.